Building construction



Jan. 18, 1927.

D. W. BROWN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1923 INVENTOR mw'wim ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES DAVID WALLER BROWN, OF AKRON, NEW YORK.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 19, 1923. Serial No. 675,737.

This invention relates to a building construction and more particularly to floor bases and roof decks which are formed of a plurality of continuous slabs or beams of plastic material, such as calcined gypsum and other cementitious material.

An object of my invention is to provide a monolithic floor or roof which comprises a plurality of reenforced precast slabs or beams so formed that they can be bonded together' chemically and mechanically by poured in place cementitious material to form a strong, stiff structure adapted to sustain the loads to which such structures are subjected. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure which includes a plurality of preformed slabs or beams having reenforcing members arranged and embedded therein to most effectively resist maximum and varying moments and shear, when said reenforcing members in adjacent slabs are united in a continuous structure.

Another' object of my invention is to promembers of adjacent slabs or beams to bring the same under tension to form a continuous beam or slab structure.

These and other objects, and the invention itself will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a floor base or roof deck assembled upon structural beams and partially in section to show the reinforcing elements;

Fig. 2 is a `longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. S is a similar sectional view taken on line B--B of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view ofone of the adjustable links connectingthe'ends of reinforcingrods embedded in adjacent precast beams orslabs. v

than the body of the slab. Longitudinal tongues 13l are formed as a portion of the base and sides of the slabs and an angular groove 14 extends longitudinally in each side wall of the slabs, above the tongues 13.

A plurality of reinforcing elements 15,

such as steel wire or special or plane metal rods, are embedded within' each slab and are positioned between the apertures 11. These rods extend substantially longitudinally through the slabs having their ends bent upwardly from the topand short of the ends of the reduced ends 12.V The central portions of the rods extend parallel with and near the base of the slabs substantially onehalf the length thereof though midspan portions are bent to deflect upwardly at substantially 45, extending parallel with the top surface and just below the top surfaces of the end portions of the slab substantially one quarter of the length of the slabs at each end. The extreme ends 32 of the reinforcing members are bentr upwardly from the top of the reduced ends 12 of the slab, short of the ends thereof, and these upstanding ends 32 are preferably within the space below the extended top surface of the slab. This arrangement of the rods effectively resists the stresses which are caused by maximum positive and maximum negative bending moment and shear to which the slabs may be subjected.

The slabs 10 are formed in such lengths that thel ends thereof will rest upon substantially one half of the top of the llanges of parallel structural floor beams or roof purlins 16, the slabs being assembled in longitudinal and contiguous rows. The mating ends of adjacent slabs are each initially secured together by adjustable links 17, which rigidly connectthe aligned Vupstanding ends 32 of the reinforcing rods 15, securing them together under tension. The links 17 are `preferably in ythe formkof aperturedY metal plates, the inner' contour being trapezoidal in. shape, the divergent sides 18 being plain, corrugated or roughened.

It will be seen that Vthese links are adjustable transversely and the diverging walls permit the reinforcing rods to be placed under tension when the space between the ends of the slabs vary, as is'quite often found to be the case due to irregularities in the fabrication and'erection of supporting structure. The ends 32 of the rods 15 project up through'the apertures in the links and are bent back over the diverging walls toward the body of the slabs which they reinforce. A The preformed slabs with the upstanding ends of the reinforcing members adjacent the ends thereof are assembled end to end in longitudinal rows. The end slab of each oi the rows is secured in tinal position upon `the structural beams, and the links 17 are placed over the upstanding ends 32 of reinforcing members either before or after the slab is so positioned. The next slab is then aligned longitudinally with the end slab and Ythe remote end may be elevated permitting the links 17, which have been placed over the upstanding ends of the reinforcing members of the lirst slab, to be adjusted so that the diverging sides will snugly engage the adjacent upstanding ends of the reinforcing members :of both slabs, when the second slab is lowered into position upon the structural beams. lVhen it is necessary or desirable, one or more of the slabs may be laid in position and the adjacent upstanding ends 82 of the reinforcing members may be fastened together by the links, without tilting the slabs. This result is obtained by placing the links over mating upstanding ends of the reinforcing members of adjacent slabs and forcing the links transversely so that the con- .verging inner walls will draw t-he end portions of the rcenforcing rods together', eifect- .ing the desired initial tension therein. rI'his lastmethod of joining the reonforcingmembers of adjacent slabs may also be used to increase or reduce the tension createdby that itirst described aft-er the slabs are substantially in final position The manner of securing the ends of the reenforcing members together increases the stiffness and strength of a continuous floor or roof formed of slabs since it provides a continuity of action of adjacent slabs, with material reductiiin in maximum stresses to be resisted.

fterseveral contiguous longitudinal rows of the slabs are assembled together by the links, the spaces above thel abutting reduced ends and tongued and grooved sides are filled with plastic calcined gypsum 19, or other cementitihous material, by hlling the spaces until flush,,with'the top 'surface of the slabs,

thehhardening of which( mechanically and chemically 'locks the slabs together in a monolithic structure. Prior to pouring in the cementitious material 19, rods 20 are placed in the adjacent ends of aligned apertures in the slabs extending across the joint between the ends of adjacent slabs and suiiicient quantity of the cementitious material 19 is poured into the soace above the reduced ends of adjacent slabs to till the ends of the apertures and the space above the reduced ends embedding the rods 20 therein. If necessary the top walls of the reduced ends above the apertures 11 can be broken to permit the material 19 to be formed into the ends of the apertures, and suitable means such as plastic balls or paper wading 33 are provided to prevent the plastic material from flowing beyond desired limits within the apertures. Thus'it will be seen that the poured in place material lls the grooves in the sidewalls of the slabs, the space above the side tongues, adjacent ends of the apertures in the slabs and the spaces Yabove the reduced ends of the slabs, thereby bonding the slabs together chemically and mechanically, bot-h longitudinally and 'transversely and forming a smooth'continuous floor 0r deck.

The end slabs of each longitudinal row are securedto thestructural beams and serve Yas ananchorage for the other slabs intermedia-te thereof. In these end slabs the reinforcing members 15 Aare' continued to the outer end of the same and 'such end is formed the same thickness as the body of the slab. These end slabs are formed so that they may be assembled at either end of a row, and the intermediate slabs are formed so that they are reversible end to end. The outer end of the end slab is formed with a metal bar 21 embedded therein and extending transversely thereaeross. Such bar being bent so that it will pass over the side apertures and underthe central apertures. This slab is also formed with a recess 22 in the bottom portion thereof beneath the bar, and an opening 23 through the base beneath the central aperture 11 and adjacent the recess 22 at one side of the bar, to receive an S-shaped retaining clip 24. One end of the S-shaped clip is insorted through the opening` 23 and hooks ,over the bar 21, the central portion resting upon the topflangc of the structural beam when the slab is placed in position to be anchored, andthe lower end ot' the clip hooks underl the top flange of the' structural beam. T he longitudinal re'enforcing members in the end slabs are bent to engage the transverse bar 21 aligning the bar and the reenforcing members while `forming the slab. The reen-- lfc'irei'ng member extending. to the outer ends of the end slabs provides a reenforced overhang thereby strengthening the projecting Vends of the roofdecks and floor bases.

Theslabs and poured cementitious material therebetween p'ro'vi'dea 'monolithic effect which is strong, stiff and especially desirable forl continuous floor bases and roof decks. The continuous reenforced construction described gives a maximum strength proportionate to the material used, as the metal reenforcements are so placed as to resist most effectively the varying bending moments and shear, and the ends and sides of the precast slabs are so formed and secured together as to effectan adhesive bond and a mechanical locking together of the slabs securing cooperative action to sustain both the dead and live loads.

Various changes may be made in the detailed construction described without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a building construction, in combination, a plurality of precast slabs of cementitious material provided with reduced ends which cooperate to form a continuous bottom wall, the ends of said slabs having aligned apertures therein; poured in place cementitious material extending into said apertures and also filling the space above said reduced ends; and reenforcing members imbedded in the poured in place material and extending from the apertures in the ends of one slab into the aligned apertures in the end of the adjacent slab.

2. In a building construction, in combination, a plurality of reformed slabs provided with reduced ends orming a continuous bottom wall, said slabs having a plurality of spaced reenforcing members extending substantially therethrough and bent upwardly short of the ends thereof, apertured links having opposite diverging inner side walls over which the ends of said reenforcing members of adjacent slabs are bent to secure the reeforcing members in tension.

3. In a building construction, in combination, a plurality of preformed slabs provided with reduced ends formin a continuous bottom wall, said slabs having a plurality of spaced reenforcing members extending s ubstantially therethrough and bent upward adj acont the ends thereof, apertured links having opposite diverging roughened inner side walls, the ends of the reenforcing members extending through the apertured links and being bent over the roughened walls to unite them in desired tension.

4. In a continuous slab or beam construction, in combination, a plurality of pre' formed slabs having tongues extending from the sides thereof and reduced ends which are assembled to provide a continuous bottom Wall, said slabs having metal reenforcing rods extending longitudinally and substantially the length thereof and projecting up- Ward short of the ends thereof; a'plurality of adjustable metal links by which the ends of mating reenforcing rods in adjacent slabs can be secured together, to effect take up of said rods when the distance between the upturned ends thereof vary; and a cementitious poured in place material for filling the spaces between adjacent slabs above said bottom tongues and reduced ends embedding said locking links and bonding said slabs together.

5. A reenforced slab for building con- `struction comprising a body formed of calcined gypsum, having spaced apertures extending longitudinally therethrough, and Va plurality of longitudinally extending reenforced members embedded within said body, on each side of the apertures, the ends and central portion of said reenforcing members lying in different planes within the body of the slab.

6. In a continuous slab or beam construction, in combination, a plurality of longitudinall apertured preformed calcined gypsum slabs or beams provided with tongues extending from the sides thereof and grooves in the side walls above said tongues and having reduced ends, said slabs having metal reenforcing rods extending longitudinally and substantially the length thereof and projecting upward short of the ends thereof; a plurality of adjustable metal links for connecting and tensionin the ends of mating reenforcing rods in adjacent slabs to effect the takeup of said rods; and poured in place plastic calcined gypsum for filling the spaces between the adjacent slabs above said side tongues and reduced ends and the ends of the adjacent apertures bonding said slabs together'longitudinall and laterally, said locking links being embedded in said poured in place gypsum.

V'i'. In a buildin construction, in combination, a preforme slab having apertures eX- tending longitudinally therethrough, a bent reinforcing bar near one end of said slab a support for said slab, and an anchoring member engaging said reinforcing bar and said support to couple said slab and said support together.

8. In a building construction, in combination, a preformed slab having apertures extending longitudinally therethrough, a bent reinforcing bar near one end of said slab, extending transversely beneath the central apertures and upwardly adjacent thereto and over the adjacent apertures, a support for said slab, and an anchoring member having hooked ends, one of said ends engaging said bar and the other of said ends engaging said support to couple said slab to said support.

9. In a building construction, in combination, a preformed slab having apertures extending longitudinally therethrough, a ybent reinforcing bar near one end of said -slab extending transversely beneath thercentral apertures .and upwardly adjacent thereto and over the adj aoentv apertures, a support for said slab, and an S-shaped anchoring member, the upper end of said S-shaped member engaging said bar and the lower end of said S shaped member engaging said sup port to couple said slab to said support, said slab having a slot formed in the bottom Wall thereof to permit the insertion of said S- shaped member vto engage said bar.

l0. In a building construction, in combination, a plurality of preformed slabs provided With reduced ends forming. a oontinuous bottom wall, said slabs having a plurality ofspaoed reinforcing members eX- tending substantially therethrough, and bent upwardly from the top surfaces of said reduced ends short ofthe` ends of the slabs, apertured links through -Whioh the upturned ends of said reinforcing members extend, said links having'opposite roughened side Walls, the ends of the said members being bent back over the sides of said links and engaging said roughened side Walls, and conneeting aligned members in adjacent slabs, and aeementitious poured in place material for bonding the ends of adjacent slabs together;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 14 dayof November, 1928.

DAVID TALLER BROWN. 

